Scallop eviscerator

ABSTRACT

THIS INVENTION RELATES GENERALLY TO THE MACHINE-PROCESSING OF SCALLOPS AND SPECIFICALLY TO IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EVISCERATOR, THAT MACHINE WHICH EFFECTS THE SEPARATION OF THE VISCERA FROM THE SCALLOP MEAT, USING THE PRINCIPLE OF ROTATING ROLLERS WITH SURFACES HAVING DIFFERENT SURFACE CHARACTER AND EXTERNAL PRESSURE.

Nov. 23, 1971 c. M. BUNNELL 3,621,515

SGALLOP EVISCERATOR Filed Dec. 22, 1969 s Sheets-Shoot 2 hln I 8 W I I 2@ Tt; \H w 18 I I In], 1 I L I, i

Nov, 23, 1971 c. M. BUNNELL 3,621,515

SCALLOP EVISCERATOR Filed Dec. 22, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGS United States Paten 3,621,515 SCALLUIP EVISCERATUR Charles Milton llunnell, PM. Box 1695, St. Augustine, Fla. 32084 Filed Dec. 22, 1969, Ser. No. 887,058 Int. Cl. A22c 29/00 US. C]. 1753 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE lDlSClLOSUlRlE This invention relates generally to the machine-processing of scallops and specifically to improvements in the eviscerator, that machine which effects the separation of the viscera from the scallop meat, using the principle of rotating rollers with surfaces having different surface character and external pressure.

An application, bearing Ser. No. 803,725, filing date Feb. 2 8, 1969, inventor Charles Milton Bunnell, discloses an evlscerator consisting of the mechanical arrangement comprising a cylindrical drum within which turns a rotor which drives a number of rollers which turn by friction, under spring-loaded pressure, against the interior drum surface and an eviscerating surface on a portion of the interior surface of the drum comprised of alternating textured and smooth areas. Another roller type machine now in experimental use by several different corporations and some of which are installed on ocean boats uses the principle of a sloping bank of adjacent, rotating rollers any adjacent two of which in a regularly reversing cycle grab the viscera between the touching surfaces of any two rollers whose surfaces are moving downward and thus pull it off of the scallop meat. The application discloses improvements including additional components which are adaptable to either type of roller eviscerator above described but specifically its adaptation is to the latter type, and the specifications and drawings portray this adaptation.

These prior art machines depend upon the rollers to perform three separate functions: (1) to position the scallop by turning it so that the viscera becomes pointed downward toward the point of tangency between the two rollers; (2) to exert a downward pressure on the scallop meat and viscera by friction with the roller surface so as to bring the short tab ends of the viscera to that point of tangency of the rollers where they can be grabbed; (3) to grab the viscera between the rollers and pull it off the scallop meat. One objection to these prior art machines is that they are only partly effective in function (1) because they use rollers that are non-textured and when two smooth-surfaced rollers turn against each other it is quite apparent that they tend to turn the scallop meat in both directions at the same time which nullifies their turning ability and reduces the turning to happenstance rather than certainty.

Another objection to these prior art machines is that they cannot perform function (2.) efliciently unless the meats are of a uniform diameter and unvarying degree of firmness and even then not without an attrition in both the number and size of the meats. It can be seen that the larger the diameter of the meat the higher it sits between the rollers and the broader the angle formed at the intersection of tangents drawn at point of contact of the seallop meat with each roller surface. The wider this angle the less frictional downward pressure is exerted by the roller surface against the meat. Conversely the smaller the meat diameter, the further down between the roller surfaces it sits and the more acute the angle of tangency becomes and therefore the greater the frictional downward pressure exerted against the meat by the roller sur- Patented Nov. 23, 11971 faces. Also for a given distance downward the angle of these tangents decreases at an accelerated pace the further downward toward the roller tangency this given distance is located. It can be deduced from these facts that the smaller the meat the more likely it is to be caught itself and eaten by the rollers. For these reasons, if there is a wide variation in diameter of a given batch of scallop meats to be eviscerated, it is inevitable that some small ones will be eaten up and some large ones will sit too high to be completely eviscerated, hence the need for uniformity in size if efficiency is to be achieved. Another pertinent factor in efficiency, the firmness of the meats and viscera, must be considered. The older a meat becomes, the softer it becomes, just as in all fish flesh. This softness causes the meat to be drawn further downward between the rollers than a firm meat. In the viscera, softness causes it to break off prematurely with successively shorter tabs to be grabbed and increasing danger of eating the meat itself. From the foregoing, which does not however explore all of the problems involved in this area, it can be seen that the roller system by itself is not suitable to perform function (2) simply because scallops are not caught in uniform size shells. Nor are the meats from a given size shell uniform in diameter due to seasonally variable available food supply and growth rate and seasonal spawning activity.

Another objection is the necessity to eviscerate the meats before the viscera softens, making it break more frequently before it is all removed from the meat. The viscera being very delicate and exposed soon softens after shucking. As the meats age over a period of three days or so the meats soften also making them more subject to attrition both in size and number.

Another objection is its limited ability to grab the slippery viscera. As the viscera breaks, each tab-end becomes successively more difficult to grab.

Another objection is the limited holding ability of two wet slippery roller surfaces pressing the slippery viscera between them and frequently severing the delicate tissue by the pressure exerted in the effort to hold the viscera firmly.

Another objection is that each meat must travel over 40 to rollers on the chance that the conditions will be right for the viscera to be completely removed, and many are not completely cleaned but have tab ends left which make necessary hand work in their removal or a less attractive product.

Another objection is the inefiicient removal of the slimy eviscerate from the rollers, as this slime complicates the efficient grabbing and holding of the viscera by the rollers.

Another objection is the limited size to which these eviscerators can be built with consequent limited production for a machine of this type because of the type rollers utilized.

Another objection is the expense involved in the replacement of the rollers.

One object of the invention is to provide a means of rotating the viscera to be grabbed which does not depend alone on the friction of the rollers against the scallop meats to effect this action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a positive means of turning the scallop meat to bring the viscera to a position at the bottom of the meat between the rollers where it can be forced to the point of tangency of the two rollers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of eviscerating any size scallop meat at the same time eliminating the risk of loss by said meat being either nibbled or eaten by the rollers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of holding the viscera without severing the tissue by the pressure of the rollers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of eviscerating the scallop regardless of the tissue condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of grabbing even the shortest tabs to thoroughly clean the meats.

Another object of the invention is to create a mechanical arrangement which can be made to produce at any output rate desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a roller which can be serviced simply and economically with a reusable core shaft, and replaceable sleeves.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple bearing system within which all the roller bearing journals can turn with a simple pressure adjustment of the rollers against each other and the bearings of which are not affected adversely by the presence of water.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of removing the eviscerate which will keep the eviscerating surfaces clean at all times.

Other objects and advantages than those set forth above will become apparent in the following description when read in connection with the drawings schematically disclosing an improved scallop eviscerator utilizing one embodiment of this invention.

Before referring to the drawings, it should be noted that the fundamental invention here is an improved principle which includes an additional component and a change in the physical make-up and the functions of the component rollers in the eviscerators currently in use. In these prior art machines, any two rollers, rotating against each other at that point in a reversing cycle in which the surfaces of the rollers are turning downward, and with a scallop meat and viscera between them, depend upon the two turning rollers alone to remove the viscera as described in the introduction to the first three objections. The invention described here eliminates the hazard of drawing the scallop meat too far down between the rollers, where, depending on its softness and size, it may or may not be eaten by the rollers. Elimination of the hazard is accomplished by using much smaller rollers of a diameter which permits no appreciable downward pull on the scallop meat itself because the angle formed by the tangents to the two rollers at the point on which a scallop meat rests is very obtuse rather than acute. A force from above is substituted to achieve function (2) of the rollers described in the introduction to the first objection, to hold, firmly and intermittently, the scallop meat and viscera against the eviscerating surfaces of the rollers and force the viscera to the roller tangency point. This component consists Of| a pressure control finger rack assembly.

Inasmuch as the prior art machines are well known in the trade, some of the drawings included are schematic in nature.

FIG. 1 is view looking down on the scallop control finger rack and chain assembly showing the parts thereof.

FIG. 2 is a vertical view looking down upon the rotating brush assembly with cutaways to show the various components at dilferent levels.

FIG. 3 is an axial cross-section of a roller with multiple bearing journals and eviscerating surfaces.

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing the major components of the invention in a way to simplify the understanding of their functions.

FIG. 5 is a lateral view of any compartment wall.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view to show the housing makeup, compartment arrangement, control finger rack and chain assemblies above the rollers, water spray, input hopper, and collector tray.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 presents a vertical view downward of the scallop control finger rack assembly. This is shown in its position superimposed over the rollers. 1 is a scallop control finger. These fingers are supported on a scallop control finger shaft 2. At either end of the line of, fingers a scallop control finger rack 3 is also supported on the shaft 2. The scallop control tfinger shaft 2 is supported on a roller chain 4. Together these parts make up the scallop control finger rack and chain assembly. At the right end of the scallop control finger rack is a curved arm which is supported on a scallop control finger rack level control guide 5. This establishes the level at which the lower end of the scallop control finger rests above the top of the roller surfaces. Not shown are clear vinyl spacers on the scallop control finger shaft to hold the fingers one-eighth inch apart nor are the chain guides. The scallop control finger shaft is of #7 gauge stainless steel. It is inserted into the chains at each end by enlarging the hole in the side rails of the chains to accommodate it and a hole not shown is drilled in each end of this shift through which is inserted a retaining pin to prevent the shaft from slipping out of the chain. The machine which followed the phototype contains six compartments, each with a scallop control finger rack and chain assembly containing 13 racks with each rack containing 16 scallop control fingers. 8 represents a compartment partition.

FIG. 1 also shows a bank of rollers which slopes down- Ward away from the viewer. This bank contains two types of rollers: '6 is a roller composed of /2" stainless steel shaft core onto which is cast a glass-fibre reinforced polyester resin sleeve of a thickness of slightly over Bonded to this with urethane resin is a coating of silica sand screened to a size and one grain thick. Over this sand is a thin coat of urethane resin to round the edges of the sand and seal the surface to a uniform textured but non-abrasive surface. The slick coating of tough resin makes it long-wearing and easily cleaned. 7 is a roller which has a soft urethane surface consisting of a thick sleeve of shore hardness 50A slipped onto a /2" stainless steel shaft core. Because of the combination of a soft surface against a hard surface with recesses into which the viscera is pressed a it goes through the rollers, there needs to be no critical setting of the rollers against each other because the viscera is not pinched in two. It is also apparent that with one relatively rough and one smooth surface both turning against the lower surface of the scallop meat, the rough surface will exert more turning influence on the meat than does the smooth roller sur face and thus turns the meat in a positive manner.

FIG. 2 is a view of the lower housing unit with the rollers and bearing supports removed to show at three different levels the rotating brush systemv components in and under the viscera collection compartment. A rectangular steel brush-supporting rack 19 extending the full length of the viscera collecting compartment supported on ball bearings 20 at all four corners which roll on angle iron tracks 21 at both ends of the rack is moved by a reciprocating action by motor M in center cutaway view G making possible the scrubbing of the bottom surfaces of the rollers from the upper to lower portion of the figure in a slow regularly repeating action. Since the brushes 9 extend from one end of the rack to the other, the rollers are scrubbed in all portions of the lower surface. The brushsupporting rack is located under the viscera-collecting compartment. In cutaway H is shown the position of mounting brush spindles with sprockets 22 mounted thereon to the brush-supporting rack and which turn in Teflon sleeve bearings in holders welded to the edges of the said rack. A motor M in cut-out H drives a chain 23 which turns the brushes at slow speed as the brush-supporting rack assembly moves forward and backward. The double broken lines I show the locations of the compartment walls and make clear that one 6 HP motor drives four brushes in each of two compartments. In the center of the drawing and around cut-out G can be seen slots 24 through the bottom of the 'viscera collection compartment; the inner line of the rectangular slot is the location of a raised wall about high and the outer line shows the outer edge of a top flange on said wall. The spindles protrude through the slots and move forward and backward with the movement of the brush-supporting rack. At the right of the drawing are shown two compartments, separated by double broken lines, four brushes 9 in each compartment. Under these brushes are rectangular cover plates 25 which are much longer than the slots, flat on top, and with sides which extend downward to lap the top flanges of slots 24 thereby preventing any splashing water from penetrating to the chains, sprockets, bearings and motors located beneath this compartment. The plates 25 have Teflon bearings moulded into their upper surfaces in such locations as to allow the brush-support spindles to protrude upward through them and the cover plates move with the rack assembly and the brushes are mounted on hex ends on top of the spindles.

FIG. 3 represents a cross section of the roller to demonstrate the multiple eviscerating sleeves and the multiple bearing journals between them and at each end. This allows the fabrication of rollers of any practical length and number of compartments similar to the part of a compartment represented by FIG. 1. Each roller in the invention issix feet long with six sleeves and seven bearing journals. The urethane sleeves of roller 7 are easily replaceable. The sanded surface is also easily replaced so that both types are simple to maintain.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the relative positions of the major components of the invention and the direction of movement of each as it performs its function. A scallop control finger 1 shown at its at-rest height above the roller tops as established by the scallop control finger level control guide 5 in FIG. 1, at position A and traveling in direction E contacts a scallop meat which rests on the tops of and between rollers 6 and 7 which turn as indicated in directional arrows F. The viscera shown hanging from the bottom of the scallop meat as the scallop control finger moves to position B is forced by the weight of the scallop control finger to the point of tangency of rollers 6 and 7 the surfaces of which are turning downward and is thus caught between the rollers and pulled through to the bottom. Here the viscera is removed from the rollers by brushes 9 which rotate on vert-ical spindles, not shown, mounted on a carriage, not shown, but which moves the brushes back and forth as indicated by directional arrows D. As the scallop control finger 1 moves to position C the sharp lower edge of its trailing end exerts a downward force on the right side of the scallop meat turning it clock-wise as viewed unless the viscera is still holding the scallop meat steady as it is being removed. This prepares it for removal of other tabs of viscera if present. In the machine there are standard floor cleaner brushes, four to a compartment, which in their travel clean the entire surface of the roller sleeves within each compartment working on the bottom of the rollers. Not shown is a low pressure water spray to the top of the roller area which is a component of the prior art machines. This helps to prevent sticking of the viscera to the roller sleeve surface. FIG. 4 also shows the alternating arrangement of the two kinds of rollers 6 and 7. The outside diameter of these rollers is /8". It can be seen that because of the cylindrical shape of the calico scallop meat it naturally fits down between the small diameter rollers so that even very short tab ends of viscera can be caught easily without danger of pulling the meat into the rollers. Each scallop control finger rack moves slowly from the top of the bank of rollers where the meats with viscera attached are introduced to the machine down the slope of rollers at a regulated height above the rollers to the lowest end of the bank where on an endless chain it is lifted in accordance with directional arrows E and returned to the top of the bank of rollers where it repeats the journey. In the course of this movement every scallop meat upon the bank of rollers is individually affected by one or another of the scallop control fingers in accordance with the action described in FIG. 4. With thirteen racks of scallop control fingers in each chain assembly it can be seen that both the number of times the pressure is applied and the period of pressure against each scallop meat can be adjusted by an electronic speed control operating the gearmotor drive for this system.

FIG. 5 is an inside lateral view of any compartment wall with the roller shafts 6 cut through so that one sees the shaft bearing journal positions within the bearing assembly. The purpose of this drawing is to show a new bearing arrangement and the principle of what might be described as floating rollers. 8 is the compartment side wall. This is made of glass-reinforced polyester resin of A" thickness. This is screwed as indicated by screwheads to the upper bearing support rail 11 comprised of a length of A" x /s" stainless steel angle. To the flat bottom of this rail is attached by counter-sunk fiathead stainless screws, but shown, the upper roller bearing 14, which consists of a Teflon compound cast into sheet form thick and cut into strips wide, which is the length of the roller bearing journals. The lower bearing strip 15 is of the same composition and dimensions and similarly attached to the lower bearing support 12, which is also of x /s" stainless angle. This is screwed to the lower bearing support stiffener 13 consisting of a length of 2" x /s" stainless flat bar stock. At each end of the lower bearing support 12 is attached a pressure adjustment screw support 17 through which is screwed a pressure adjustment screw 16 which brings pressure to bear on the whole bank of rollers through an end bearing 18. Since the roller sleeves of both types protrude from the shafts and bear against each other it can be seen why there is a gap of A3" between the shaft hearing journals and that they touch the bearings only at top and bottom and on one side of each of the top and of the bottom roller bearing journals. The rollers easily pass between them reasonably small shell pieces spreading the shafts apart if necessary without harm to the eviscerating surfaces of either type roller. The bearings and shaft require no lubrication, and water does not harm them. Not shown are the Teflon bearings, which, in the applicants machine, are cast into the compartment side walls to support the shafts on which the sprockets that support and drive the scallop control finger rack and chain assemblies are mounted.

FIG. 6 pictures the upper housing 26 consisting of the several compartments in a single casting of glassreinforced polyester resin. The lower housing 27 is also of one-piece glass reinforced polyester resin. In the several compartments of the upper housing 26 are shown the scallop control finger rack and chain assemblies driven as indicated by directional arrow K. At the top of each compartment they can be seen to be moving from left to right. In the cut-out L of the compartment nearest the viewer may be seen the scallop control finger rack and chain assemblies supported on sprockets 30 at the bottom and idler bearings 31 at the top, moving from right to left with the finger ends in their at-rest position, just above the roller surfaces. A gear motor M drives the chain assemblies at a slow speed over the rollers. At the right of the upper housing and extending through all the compartments is a series of hoppers 28 into which can be dropped a line of scallops as long as the machine and a desirable number of times per minute. This can be done by a ditferent machine, a distributor, or the uneviscerated muscles may be introduced to the hoppers by hand. At the left portion of the hoppers a light water spray consisting of a pipe '29 with small holes in a line and extending through all the hoppers aids in spreading out the muscles and lubricating their path from the high right end of the bank of rollers to the low left end thereof. A hose connection at the designated point 29 supplies the water. The eviscerated meats drop down a chute 32 into collection tray 33. Between the hopper housing 26 and lower housing 27 may be seen a bank of rollers between strip bearings as described in the discussion of FIG. 5. It will be noted that a series of sprockets 34 meshing on top of a chain 35 are driven by a reversing motor M/R. Under the chain are back-up idler ball bearings 36. This makes it possible when the upper housing is raised to lift the rollers out for servicing without disassembly. The double broken line 37 locates the position of viscera-collecting tray wherein the viscera is collected. It is then removed from the machine through drain hole 38.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for machine-processing scallops or the like, which includes a series of rotatably mounted rollers of relatively small diameter on which the scallops are placed, a means supporting said rollers, the adjacent ones of said rollers being of different surface character, and mechanical pressure means engageable with said scallop meats and so mounted as to exert a controlled pressure on them and in the direction of the roller nips, such pressure insuring that the viscera between adjacent rollers will be engaged by the roller nips and pulled free from the scallop muscle without mutiliating or destroying said muscle.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said rollers has a soft, smooth surface and its adjacent roller has a hard, textured surface, the different surfaces providing different coeflicients of friction to thereby cause the scallop muscle to rotate.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said textured surface consists of many raised points surrounded by recessed portions forming valleys which allow viscera caught between them to remain unbroken as it is pulled from the muscle between the rollers.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 in which the mechanical pressure means includes a plurality of pressure control fingers, rack assemblies supporting said fingers and being mounted parallel to the roller axes and extend ing for the full length of their eviscerating surfaces, endless chain means supporting said rack assemblies above said rollers at a sufficient height to clear the muscles below them and having means establishing a minimum level of the finger end. i

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,129,456 4/1964 Renfroe 17-52 3,177,522 4/1965 Renfroe 17-'-53 3,203,034 '8/1965 Matzer et al 17-74 3,383,734 5/1968 Lapeye 17"73 3,528,124 9/1970 Wenstrom et al 17-48 LUCIE H. LAUD'ENSLAGER, Primary Examiner 

